College picks: Week 8

Here’s an incredible note: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M’s freshman quarterback, is averaging more rushing yards and more passing yards per game than Tim Tebow did during his 2007 Heisman trophy season. He has been incredible, and the biggest reason the Aggies have been competitive in their first year in the SEC. Still, I can’t bring myself to pick them against LSU. The one time Manziel has played a very good defense, Florida totally shut him down in the second half. That was his first college game, I know, but I’m not sure the young guy is ready for a front seven like the Tigers’. Next year should be different.

LSU 27, Texas A&M 20.

No. 7 South Carolina at No. 2 Florida, 3:30 p.m. Saturday

The weekly grind of the SEC showed itself last week in Baton Rouge, when LSU avoided a disastrous two-game losing streak and South Carolina couldn’t quite pull off a second consecutive marquee victory. This week, the Gamecocks are the team in a desperate situation, as a loss to Florida would eliminate their stranglehold on the SEC East race. All signs point to the Gators, with South Carolina banged up and possibly missing Marcus Lattimore due to a hip injury. But the way this conference is shaping up, I just can’t see Florida taking control of the division so easily. The Gamecocks should find some magic and stay away from the two-week slide just like LSU did a week ago.

South Carolina 14, Florida 10.

No. 17 Texas Tech at No. 23 TCU, 3:30 p.m. Saturday

It’s time to give some credit to Texas Tech’s defense. The Red Raiders were near the top of the national rankings a few weeks into the season, but those dominating performances came against a soft schedule. After last week’s 49-14 beatdown of West Virginia, though, it’s clear that Tech is solid on that side of the ball. The question is: Can the Raiders keep it up against the rest of the Big 12? It’s still too early to say. Last week was a perfect storm for West Virginia, making its second consecutive long trip to Texas and playing its third crucial conference game in a row. This is a tossup, so I’ll take the home team and bank on the Raiders’ not being able to play so well for a second straight week.

TCU 20,Texas Tech 14.

BYU at No. 5 Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. Saturday

I know the schedule hasn’t exactly been brutal, but the Notre Dame defense is starting to put up some ridiculous numbers. The Fighting Irish have now gone four straight games without allowing an offensive touchdown, and they still haven’t allowed a team to score one rushing. BYU was on a similar pace, until Oregon State blitzed the home-standing Cougars 42-24 last week – behind a backup quarterback, no less. Notre Dame isn’t as explosive as the Beavers are, but the Irish should have no trouble corralling the BYU offense Saturday. They’ll score enough to stay unbeaten.

Notre Dame 23, BYU 13.

No. 4 Kansas State at No. 13 West Virginia, 7 p.m. Saturday

There’s no doubt West Virginia will play much better this week. If nothing else, the Mountaineers don’t have to make another brutal trek halfway across the country. But perhaps even more than their 70-63 game against Baylor, the Texas Tech loss showed that the defense probably isn’t going to improve anytime soon. I am confident, though, that Kansas State’s defenders can do just enough to keep their team in it Saturday night. The way the Wildcats have performed in close games the last two seasons, I can’t count them out.

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